**Chapter 31: Reunited with Kamisato Ayaka**
The next morning, Jingchen woke up early and prepared meat porridge for Columbine.
He walked over to her side and gently nudged her awake.
Columbine rubbed her sleepy eyes, slowly sat up, stretched languidly, and yawned.
"Good morning, A'Chen."
"Hmm? Little Lazy Columbine, hurry up and eat some meat porridge."
Columbine opened her mouth slightly, making it clear she had no intention of feeding herself.
Jingchen smiled helplessly, gently blew on the hot porridge, and fed her spoonful by spoonful.
***
After finishing the meat porridge, Columbine yawned again.
"A'Chen, I still want to sleep a bit longer."
"Mm, then you should rest for now."
Columbine snuggled closer to Jingchen and drifted back to sleep.
Jingchen wondered why Columbine had been so tired these past few days.
Several hours passed, and Columbine still showed no signs of waking.
Having just arrived in Inazuma with much to do, Jingchen decided to go out and take a look around.
He carefully laid Columbine down, gently tucked the blanket around her, and left the Serenitea Pot.
He then placed the Serenitea Pot into his Spatial Backpack.
*After all, I can only feel at ease when Columbine is by my side.*
In the corner, Jingchen immediately recognized the faint snoring coming from the wooden barrel as belonging to Sayu, the Shuumatsuban member who was either a tanuki or a raccoon dog.
*Did Ayato send her?*
*Ah, whatever.*
*I have no secrets or shady dealings to hide anyway.*
His purpose in coming to Inazuma was simple: to obtain the Raiden Shogun's Gnosis. As for the war between Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island, he had no intention of getting involved.
Stepping out of the inner room, he saw Liudashika and a middle-aged man with Inazuman features standing at the foot of the stone stairs.
"Hm? Liudashika, who's this?"
"Lord Jingchen, this—"
Before Liudashika could finish, the Inazuman man pushed her aside and thrust a large pile of Mora and various Inazuman jewels at Jingchen, his expression obsequious.
"Executive, I am Hiiragi Shinsuke, head of the Accountant Magistrate."
"Head of the Accountant Magistrate? What business brings you here?"
"To discuss matters of cooperation."
***
After finalizing the details of the collaboration between the Fatui and the Accountant Magistrate, Hiiragi Shinsuke remained in place.
"Why aren't you leaving? Is there something else?"
"Executive, actually... *sigh*. The Shogunate Commission keeps sending people to search for evidence of my cooperation with you."
"Let them search."
"Ah?! Executive, I'm truly on my own here! If I fall, the Fatui's influence in Ritou will suffer."
Jingchen paused, considering. *Is this old man deliberately playing the victim, or is he trying to manipulate me into attacking the Shogunate Commission?*
*The Shogunate Commission is investigating him? As the head of the Accountant Magistrate, why would he be afraid?*
*Sigh! Among Inazuma's fallen nobles, aside from the Kamisato siblings, the rest are either shortsighted, cunning, or arrogant.*
Seeing a glimmer of hope, the head of the Accountant Magistrate pressed on.
"Executive, you were once a prominent figure at the Grand Narukami Shrine. If you intervened, they might stop their investigation!"
"Why don't you ask the head of the Tenryō Commission for help?"
"Ah, Executive, that old fox would love to see me fall. Once I'm gone, no one will threaten his position."
"Position? The status of Inazuma's nobles?"
"The status of our Accountant Magistrate's collaboration with the Fatui."
Jingchen waved his hand dismissively.
"I understand. You may leave now."
"Yes, yes, yes."
As the old man departed, he distributed a large bag of Mora to the other Fatui members.
*Truly the Accountant Magistrate, responsible for Inazuma's finances.*
***
It hadn't been ten years yet. Time for a proper revisit to Ritou, his old stomping grounds.
As Jingchen walked down Ritou's main street, a large group of Fatui followed closely behind.
Feeling self-conscious, he turned around and snapped at them, "What are you still doing here? Disperse immediately!"
"Ah... yes, Lord Jingchen."
The streets were sparsely populated, and the faces of the Inazumans carried an air of resignation. Compared to ten years ago, Ritou felt even colder and more desolate.
Was it the Vision Hunt Decree, the nation's isolation, or the war between Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island that had brought about this decline?
That old man had asked for his help, wanting the Shogunate Commission to stop investigating him. If he needed to contact the Shogunate Commission, should he reach out to Ayato or Little Ayaka?
Jingchen continued his aimless stroll when a graceful, melodious voice suddenly called out from behind.
"Brother Jingchen!"
"Hm?!"
He turned to see a girl with a silver ponytail and delicate features.
"Little Ayaka?"
Kamisato Ayaka hurried toward him, the tinkling of her bells growing louder as she approached.
(Ayaka can actually run, as you can test before entering the Abyss.)
Her face was a mixture of shock and joy as she tightly grasped Jingchen's hands.
"Brother Jingchen, is it really you? Am I dreaming? I'm not dreaming, am I?!"
"Little Ayaka, calm down, calm down. You're the White Heron Princess—you can't behave so undignified."
Kamisato Ayaka froze, her cheeks flushing crimson. She quickly released Jingchen's hand, raised her folding fan to hide her face, and concealed her embarrassment at the impolite gesture.
"Brother Jingchen, this isn't the place for us to talk. Please come with me to Komorebi Teahouse."
"Ah?! That works too. I wanted to speak with you alone anyway."
Ayaka stiffened. After just reuniting, he wanted to talk privately?!
Could it be... could it be that Brother Jingchen wants to say...
That he's been thinking of Ayaka all these past ten years?!
*This... what should I do?! Should I take him back to see my brother?*
*Wait, wait, Ayaka! Calm down! Maintain your composure. I can't let Brother Jingchen see how flustered I am.*
Jingchen stared at Ayaka, his face filled with confusion as she stood there, clearly lost in thought.
*What's this girl thinking about?! I just wanted to tell her to have the Shogunate Commission temporarily halt their investigation into the Accountant Magistrate.*
*But that expression... it feels a little strange.*
As they walked, Ayaka's expression grew increasingly... well, a bit absurd.
She even deliberately closed the distance between them, prompting Jingchen to quicken his pace.
He realized Ayaka seemed to be developing feelings for him that were... problematic.
Not that he was conceited, but the way Ayaka was acting reminded him of that Hu Tao girl.
He already had Columbine, and besides, he had watched Ayaka grow up right before his eyes!
Following Ayaka into the Komorebi Teahouse, she knelt beside Jingchen.
That's right, not across from him, but directly beside his arm.
Jingchen was momentarily taken aback. According to Lumine's original Archon Quest, weren't they supposed to sit across from each other, with Thoma present?
Why was Thoma missing this time?
To his surprise, Ayaka didn't order hotpot, let alone the so-called "ice cream hotpot." Instead, she served simple tea-soaked rice, Sakura Mochi, and grilled saury.
Ayaka deliberately concealed her overwhelming joy behind her fan, her smile radiant.
"Brother Jingchen, why haven't you visited me all these years?!"
"Hmm? Little Ayaka, I've been very busy with many things."
Ayaka suddenly hesitated, as if she had something incredibly important to tell Jingchen.
"Brother Jingchen, I... I..."
Jingchen froze, and the bowl in his hand slipped and shattered. Ayaka hurriedly began cleaning up the shards, accidentally cutting her finger on a broken piece.
Jingchen immediately pulled out medicinal herbs to treat her wound.
Ayaka lowered her gaze, her face filled with apology.
"I'm sorry, Brother Jingchen. I specifically asked them to prepare Liyue tableware."
"Ah?! It's all my fault for being so distracted, Little Ayaka. You did nothing wrong."
"Mmm..."
...................
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(End of Chapter)